Are you looking to drive your career forward by working as part of a dynamic and rewarding team?
Here at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council we are seeking a talented and enthusiastic individual to join our Legal Services team as Principal Lawyer - Planning.
We are a large, in-house legal team consisting of lawyers, paralegals and support staff providing legal advice to two local authorities (Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Hart District Council). As a shared legal service, we advise across a range of areas of law including property, contracts, procurement, planning, litigation (civil and criminal), housing, licensing and governance.
What we’re looking for:
We are looking for individuals who:
Are a qualified, practicing Solicitor/Barrister/CILEX and have a proven track record of delivering high quality legal advice within, and a sound knowledge of, planning law;
Are able to work as part of a team, be flexible and enthusiastic;
Can demonstrate excellent communication skills and have the ability to prioritise workloads and meet deadlines; and
Can demonstrate experience of dealing with high profile and/or complex planning matters.
General local government and/or public law experience gained through working in a local authority would also be beneficial, although not essential.
What you will do:
As a Principal Solicitor - Planning, you will:
manage a caseload of complex planning matters, including planning enforcement, s.106 agreements and advice work to elected members, committees and staff;
provide high-quality professional legal services on planning matters, draft and review critical documents, advise at planning committee and provide support at planning appeals and inquiries;
line manage one of the paralegals within the team, supporting their development and training;
stay informed of legal developments in planning legislation, case law and policy, ensuring that your advice remains up to date.
What benefits do we offer?
At Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council we offer a wide range of employee benefits to recognise your valued contribution:
Benchmarked pay- £53,849 - £58,111 (plus £5,000 Market Supplement)
Flexible and hybrid working options
Generous leave entitlement – 28 days plus bank holidays (increases with service)
Local government pension scheme and Life Assurance
Salary sacrifice schemes for bicycles and electric cars
Access to discounts at nationwide retailers through our ‘B Rewarded’ perks discount site
Funded healthcare cash plan including optical and dental
Subsidised annual health checks and free flu vaccinations
Access to a free and confidential employee assistance program
Support towards a variety of training including professional qualifications, apprenticeships, wider technical and soft skills development.
About Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council
Covering an area of over 245 square miles in northern Hampshire and within a short distance to London Waterloo and the south coast, Basingstoke and Deane offers a real blend of rural and urban living. With a population of 185,200 people, Basingstoke is a fast paced, vibrant, and modern town with many successful businesses, surrounded by pretty villages and set in the stunning Hampshire countryside.
We are extremely lucky to be in a position that few other councils are in, as we continue to deliver our key front-line services and are going a step further by investing a significant amount of money each year to improve these services for our residents. Our 2022 resident satisfaction survey rate was an impressive 93% - a figure that has remained consistently high in recent years and well above the South East’s 74% average and the national 80% average.
Application:
We are excited to learn more about you and what you can bring to our team. If you have any questions about the role, feel free to email our Planning, Litigation and Governance Team Manager at emma.bethell@basingstoke.gov.uk
Please apply today!
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council offer a wide range of benefits, including a generous leave entitlement, access to discounts at nationwide retailers through our ‘B Rewarded’ discount site, flexible working, healthcare cash plan, pension scheme and much more.
The council signs up to the Disability Confident scheme (formerly known as the ‘Two Ticks’ scheme). If you have declared a disability on the application form we can guarantee you an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the job.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident .